NFL Draft’s Potential Patriots: Rice CB Phillip Gaines

WEEI.com will continue to offer daily insight and analysis regarding options that may be available to the Patriots when it comes to the 2014 NFL draft. Here is one is a series of profiles of players who could be on the board when it’s time for the Patriots to make a selection.

What he brings: Analysts have praised Gaines for his speed, athleticism and ball-hawking ability. Durability is a concern, as he only played in five games during the 2011 season. He needs to develop his instincts in order to make better plays against the pass. He also needs to build strength, as he has struggled with tackling.

Where the Patriots could get him: Rounds 2-4

Notes: Gaines recorded 36 tackles and four interceptions and batted down nine passes in 2013. … He broke up 38 passes in his collegiate career, a school record. … Gaines was the only junior to be named captain of the 2012 squad. … At the NFL combine, Gaines ran a 4.38 40-yard dash (second fastest of all CBs there) and completed the 3-cone drill in 6.67 seconds (second fastest of all CBs, fifth fastest of any player timed).